Stepping outside my front door, sometimes the play of light and shadow in Oaxaca takes my breath away.
Crown of thorns (aka, Corona de Cristo, Euphorbia milii) taken November 2018.
Archive for the ‘Gardens’ Category
Still life in black & white
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, tagged Black and white photography, Casita Colibrí, container plant, Crown of Thorns, Euphorbia milii, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, succulents on May 24, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Tis the season…
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged Cabellos de Ángel, Epiphyllum hookeri, flowers, garden, Mexico, Night Blooming Cereus, Oaxaca, photos, pistachio, popular travel destinations, Pseudobombax ellipticum, Shaving Brush Tree, Spring, trees on May 4, 2019| 4 Comments »
The thermometer hovers in the low 90’s (F), a very occasional late afternoon thunderstorm clears the air and cleans the sidewalks, and the high-pitched song of the cicadas (aka, cigarras and chicharras) add to Oaxaca’s soundtrack.
In addition, “shaving brushes” are seen springing from the branches of the Pseudobombax ellipticum trees — commonly known here as Cabellos de Ángel (angel hair).
In my garden, the night blooming cereus (Epiphyllum hookeri) have been greeting me early in the morning.
And, my pistachio tree, which the leaf cutter ants stripped of all its leaves eight months ago, has rebounded and produced its first nut. Such is spring in Oaxaca!
April flowers
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged Cee's Flower of the Day, Flor de mayo, flowers, FOTD, frangipani, gardens, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, plumeria, popular travel destinations on April 6, 2019| 2 Comments »
Tonight, the clocks in most of Mexico spring ahead.
However, the flowers are on their own time and the Flor de Mayo (aka, Plumeria, Frangipani) have already begun to bloom.
Rain drops
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged bougainvillea, flowers, garden, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, rain storms on March 23, 2019| 2 Comments »
After a few nights of a drop or two, we had an real rainstorm last night.
The sound of rain lulled me to sleep last night.
This morning I awoke to clear a clear sky and a glistening garden.
While no one believes this is the start of the rainy season, it is much welcome evidence that Cocijo hasn’t forsaken the valley of Oaxaca.
Shadows on the terrace
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged garden, loveseat, Mexico, Oaxaca, outdoor furniture, photos, rooftop, shadows, terrace on March 17, 2019| 6 Comments »
Warm weather, clear skies, and shadows on the rooftop…
Ahhh… evening terrace tranquility.
The Other Red
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged Bottle Brush tree, Callistemon, Christmas season, garden, Mexico, Noche Buena, Nochebuena, Oaxaca, photos, red flowering plants, terrace garden, trees on December 20, 2018| 2 Comments »
Yes, I know, the Poinsettia is the unofficial red flowering plant of the Christmas season — in Mexico, it even shares the name for Christmas Eve, Nochebuena. However, there is another red flowering plant that provides holiday color this time of year, the Bottle Brush tree (genus, Callistemon).
On the rooftop, my container-planted Bottle Brush tree.
Any way you look at it, it brightens the day and brings a bit of Christmas cheer to the garden.
Bottle Brush, the other red of Christmas!
Flowers inside and out
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged Casita Colibrí, Crown of Thorns, flowers, garden, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, roses on November 11, 2018| 6 Comments »
Day three of cut roses from the Mercado de Abastos. Gracias a Kalisa!
Crown of Thorns… new addition to the rooftop garden from the weekly Sunday plant sale in the Jardín Morelos.
Winter may be coming, but there are always flowers blooming in Oaxaca.
Cultivating coyuche
Posted in Agriculture, Casita Colibrí, Creativity, Flora, Gardens, Textiles, Travel & Tourism, tagged algodón, Casita Colibrí, cotton, cotton bolls, coyuche, flowers, garden, Katyi Ya'a, photos, plants, textile traditions, textiles on October 19, 2018| 8 Comments »
Not all cotton bolls are white…
Roberta French, who built my apartment complex in Oaxaca many decades ago, established a textile weaving business and planted coyuche (koyuchi), a natural brown cotton. She is no longer with us, but her plant survives and grows up onto my balcony. This time of year, the yellow, pink, and rose flowers bloom, die, form pods, and brown cotton fluff results.
And the results? Here, at my apartment complex, the plant is solely decorative. However, the traditional way of growing, spinning, and weaving brown cotton is still practiced in some communities in coastal Oaxaca, Mexico. And, I have been lucky enough to have been gifted an old huipil woven of coyuche and acquired a new one at an expo-venta here in Oaxaca city. If you would like more information on coyuche and its cultivation and weaving, I recommend checking out the Katyi Ya’a collective.
Sunshine on a cloudy day
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, tagged flowers, garden, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, plants, Stephanotis floribunda, terrace garden, vines on October 13, 2018| 2 Comments »
The late rainy season continues, but my garden brings sunshine to a cloudy day.
8:00 AM
5:40 PM
The Stephanotis floribunda reaches for the sky and brings the light.
Cactus flowers
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, tagged cactus, Cleistocactus, flowers, gardens, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos on October 9, 2018| 13 Comments »
Yesterday morning…
Cleistocactus
There are days when light and shadows paint the garden and I sigh at Mother Nature’s artistry.
Palm to plastic
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Creativity, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged garden, loveseat, Mexico, Oaxaca, outdoor furniture, photographs, photos, recycled plastic, terrace, weaving with plastic on June 23, 2018| 22 Comments »
Once upon a time, I went to Linda Hanna’s house in San Andrés Huayapam — the B&B Casa Linda. In addition to running a B&B, she leads artisan tours, is a major collector of textiles, art, crafts, and you name it, AND holds occasional yard sales. I always try to attend the latter and always buy a thing or two or three or four. Thus, 2-1/2 years ago, this loveseat found it’s way onto the terrace of Casita Colibrí. Linda wasn’t sure where or when she originally purchased it and it had long been relegated to a bed for a member of her animal menagerie, as the palm had completely disintegrated on one side, leaving only the jute webbing to prevent one’s bottom from landing on the ground. However, it had “good bones” and I had fallen in love with it. I figured that with a couple of decorative pillows to hide the hole, it would look great and be relatively functional. They did and it was.
Over the course of the past couple of years, the elements have caused more wear and tear to the palm and the wooden frame needed work. Into the story comes Sebastián, of Talavera transformation, part 4 fame. As if it wasn’t enough to be a carpenter, stonemason, electrician, plumber, and glazier, he and his wife Elizabeth had taken classes in weaving with plastic and started a business — primarily making baskets/purses. A couple of months ago, he stopped by to show me their latest projects and I had an inspiration. Could they refurbish my loveseat? His eyes lit up, said yes, we talked colors and designs, and a few weeks later he hauled it away. On Wednesday, it came back home.
I suspect you are asking, why plastic when the palm looked so beautiful? Two reasons. Firstly, it was a spur of the moment decision, but I knew Sebastián, trusted the work he does, and loved the creative possibilities he showed me. Secondly, I’d bought the loveseat to live outside on the terrace (albeit, under the gazebo) and in the back of my mind, as the palm seat, back, and arms continued to deteriorate, I’d wondered if there might be something more long lasting that could be used. Thus, plastic. However, it’s not just any plastic, Sebastián and Elizabeth’s business uses recycled plastic.
By the way, they also refinished the wood, using a marine varnish to help contribute to its longevity. I think, in its new incarnation, my loveseat still looks right at home and what is old is new again!
A garden endures
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged African Tulip trees, bougainvillea, flowers, garden, Night Blooming Cereus, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, plumbago, popular travel destinations on June 11, 2018| 8 Comments »
June in Oaxaca city, the mornings are grey.
Bougainvillea
The sun eventually appears.
Plumbago
Afternoon clouds gather and thunder rumbles in the distance.
African tulip tree
Then darkness descends.
Night blooming cereus
Alas, this June only a minimal amount of rain has fallen. But the garden endures.
X marks the spot
Posted in Animals, Casita Colibrí, Gardens, Science & Nature, Travel & Tourism, tagged Araneidae, Argiope, Casita Colibrí, garden, Mexico, nature, Oaxaca, orb weaver spiders, photographs, photos, spider webs, stabilimentum on May 31, 2018| 2 Comments »
X currently marks the spot in OaXaca — be it for HOT weather, blockades, or orb weaving spiders. Regarding the latter, another, in a long line of Argiopes, has chosen to take up residence on my terrace.
Fun fact: The purpose of the white zigzag of silk, known as a stabilimentum, is disputed. It reflects UV light and may act as camouflage, attract insect prey, or prevent larger creatures from accidentally destroying the web. Whatever the function, this gal’s (yes, it is a female) is one of the best I’ve seen!
More from the market
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Food, Gardens, Markets, Textiles, Travel & Tourism, tagged artisan markets, chickens, grilled onions, market day, mercados, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, rebozos, seeds, shawls, Tlacolula de Matamoros on May 26, 2018| 4 Comments »
Last Sunday at the weekly market in Tlacolula de Matamoros…
Chickens
Rebozos
Seeds
Lunch
It’s not just about produce, bootleg DVDs, tools, and underwear.
Cereus abundance
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, tagged cactus, Epiphyllum hookeri, flowers, Mexico, Night Blooming Cereus, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, plants on May 7, 2018| 2 Comments »
Act two of this year’s night blooming cereus extravaganza began the night of April 22…
Continued the night of April 26…
And, it looks like there will be more in a week or two!
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This work by spixl is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
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